UGI PNG to pay less for fuel, customers to benefit

UGI Penn Natural Gas expects to pay less for the fuel used to heat homes and businesses this winter and will pass on the savings to customers.

The utility said it projects its purchased gas cost rate will decrease in its annual filing on Dec. 1 with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. As a result of the lower cost the average residential heating customer’s bill will decrease by approximately 2.8 percent.

By law the purchased gas cost rate is passed on to consumers without a markup. The utility must file its rate annually, but it can adjust it quarterly to reflect changes in wholesale prices. There will be no adjustment at its June 1 quarterly filing and it will remain at $0.39816 per hundred cubic feet. It’s been at the rate since the Dec. 1, 2017 filing.

“Natural gas continues to be an excellent long-term value thanks to a local, plentiful and reliable supply,” Paul Szykman, UGI’s chief regulatory officer said in a prepared statement. “While other home heating fuels have experienced price increases, clean, abundant, locally-produced natural gas continues to see stable prices that benefit our residential customers and offer a competitive advantage for Pennsylvania businesses.”

On Dec. 1, the bill for a typical residential heating customer who uses 91 hundred cubic feet of natural gas per month will decrease to $88.67 from $91.25, the utility said. The bill for a typical commercial retail customer using 29.6 thousand cubic feet per month will decrease to $222.32 from $230.37 per month. A typical industrial retail customer using 97 thousand cubic feet per month will decrease to $652.47 from $678.92 per month.

Customers may call UGI at 1-800-276-2722 to receive further information on the proposed rates or to find out what actions they may take. UGI encourages customers to use energy wisely and make efficiency improvements in their homes.

All customers are encouraged to sign up for UGI’s free budget billing program, which spreads bills out over a 12-month period. Customers with a limited or fixed income should call UGI at 1-800- UGI-WARM to determine if they are eligible for one of several energy assistance programs. Any customer behind on their gas bill should contact the utility as soon as possible to discuss a payment arrangement.